We still have that problem with separate fire alarms!
a.c.
Ampleforth Abbey, York
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bill East <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 22 December 1998 12:01
Subject: Re: Time
>
>>Modern humans think there is a problem because we have so many timepieces.
>>Medieval people hadn't noticed that there was anything to solve, so they
>>didn't.
>
>Exactly so. It doesn't really matter (so it seems to me, a secular) what
>time monks do things, so long as they all do them at the same time. So
long
>as one monk has the responsibility for ringing the bell for vespers,
>everyone will come to vespers when he rings. The difficulty arises when
two
>monasteries, like Rievaulx and Old Byland, are within earshot of each
other;
>then the confusion arises. The monks couldn't look at their wrist-watches
>to check if that was their bell ringing, or the other firm's.
>
>Oriens.
>
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